How long would it take to ship the rocket there though? It's quite a sail...

_________________Say, can you feel the thunder in the air? Just like the moment ’fore it hits – then it’s everywhereWhat is this spell we’re under, do you care? The might to rise above it is now within your sphereMachinae Supremacy – Sid Icarus

Just a week or so, not that bad if you work it into your planning. Less than 18 hrs. if cost is no object or you're the government.

So the real drawback is relative costs. The high cost of living and... isolation, means your labor costs are going to be higher than a CONUS location. And shipping replacement parts and equipment is going to cost time, which is just as good as money. It would rather suck that for a ten cent bolt, your launch is on hold at a much greater per hour rate.

I would say if they need a ten cent bolt at KSC they go to the local hardware store (they have them on Hawaii). If they need a unique aerospace bolt they fly one in from the contractor or from someone like MacMaster-Carr(same thing for Hawaii).

Which is fine since most launches are prograde. If you wanted a polar or retro orbit, just launch from Alaska or Vandenburg.

Rick Maschek wrote:

I would say if they need a ten cent bolt at KSC they go to the local hardware store (they have them on Hawaii). If they need a unique aerospace bolt they fly one in from the contractor or from someone like MacMaster-Carr(same thing for Hawaii).

True, but the shipping time is what kills you. Where you can "same day" from just about anywhere in CONUS, it will be "the next day" to Hawaii. What if you need a big fairing panel, or an entire motor? You're SOL and you are going to miss your window.

Costs in general are also higher, as is having extra spares on hand. Not a killer, just a consideration.

Just did a quick Fed Ex comparison for shipping 5 pound package from here (Sourthern California) to Big Island Hawaii and to Florida next day air. Cost to Hawaii was $107 and the cost to Florida was $123

I could not do same day on line, they require call them. I will admit if your part is somewhere in Florida and you need it to your launch site in Florida it would be less than shipping a part from Florida to Hawaii.

If you want a polar orbit, you could just launch due south. Retrograde orbits are very rare; the only use I know of off-hand is Isreali spy satellites, which have to be launched in a retrograde orbit since west over the Mediterranean is the only safe direction to launch in from Isreal. So I don't think the geography of Hawaii and its surroundings is a problem.

_________________Say, can you feel the thunder in the air? Just like the moment ’fore it hits – then it’s everywhereWhat is this spell we’re under, do you care? The might to rise above it is now within your sphereMachinae Supremacy – Sid Icarus